Part 2: Asian

Figure 14 displays the total increase in the population of Asian descent that occurred between 1990 and 2000. There was a strong urban aspect to this growth, with nearly 42 percent of the growth going into Mecklenburg and Wake counties. A large share of the rest went to other Piedmont counties.

The distribution of North Carolina's Asian population in 2000 reflects the recent growth trend in many respects (Figure 15). Those counties with three percent or more are in the Raleigh-Durham area, in Charlotte-Mecklenburg or in the Hickory area. Somewhat lesser proportions were found in other parts of the Piedmont or in other metro counties, including the Fayetteville area, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Greenville, New Bern or Jacksonville. All other areas had proportions that were less than the statewide share of 1.77 percent.